BOSTON, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- It turns out that cleaning the house isn't just a dirty job that no one wants to do. For some, it's downright stressful. A new survey by Handybook, the real-time booking service that lets consumers book cleaning and handyman services in 90 seconds or less, reveals that consumers not only feel stressed about cleaning themselves, but also anxious about searching for a reliable, trustworthy household cleaning provider.

More than half of respondents said their inability to find a maid leaves them feeling stressed, and it even takes a toll on relationships—37 percent of couples admit to arguing about cleaning at least once a month.

For those who are able to find a maid or handyman to tackle those household chores, reliability and tardiness seem to be the biggest issues. An overwhelming 92 percent of consumers who have hired a maid have experienced tardiness of ten minutes or more, while nearly 42 percent said they've dealt with a maid, plumber or handyman who was an hour or more late. And, six percent fell victim to a household service provider who never showed up at all.

To combat stressful situations and unreliable service providers, the Handybook platform makes booking an appointment to fix a broken pipe or get your kitchen floors washed as easy as ordering shoes or pizza online. Simply go to Handybook.com and search for the service required. Each listed provider is pre-screened, pre-approved and guaranteed to show up on time, leaving consumers with a hassle-free process from start to finish.

"Although 82 percent of people think finding a household service provider would take an hour or more, that's simply not the case," said Umang Dua, Co-Founder and COO of Handybook. "Handybook proves that it doesn't have to be a stressful or time-consuming process. In only 90 seconds, you can book an appointment to get your house cleaned from wall to wall or check something off your honey-do list."

Consumers are more active than ever before and list "being too busy" and "feeling distracted" as the prominent reasons to avoid cleaning. And while many would like to hire help, more than 25 percent say they are just not sure whom to trust. Of those who have hired a maid to help, nearly a third say they felt ripped off or unsure about the price they paid for the service.

"Late or unreliable cleaning providers and handymen have really distorted consumers' perspective on hiring someone to lend that little bit of help needed to make an over-the-top busy schedule achievable," said Oisin Hanrahan, Co-founder and CEO of Handybook. "But Handybook is taking the stress and worry out of hiring household service providers. Just visit Handybook.com, or download the Handybook mobile app, and book an appointment with a reliable house cleaner or handyman, who's guaranteed to show up on time, every time."

The survey also revealed consumers' preferences in cleaning particular rooms of the house. Not surprisingly, 57 percent said the bathroom is their least favorite room to clean. But perhaps more shocking, 34 percent said they've gone one month or more without cleaning their bathroom in the past year.

For more information about Handybook, or to book a service with a reliable household service provider or plumber today, visit www.handybook.com.

About the Survey Methodology

The study was administered by USamp during late January 2013 among a nationwide panel of consumers 18 years of age and older. Three hundred surveys were completed by random participants throughout the United States. More information about USamp can be found at www.USamp.com

About Handybook

Handybook is the easiest, quickest and most reliable way to book a household service professional. Founded in Boston in 2012 by Harvard Business School students Oisin Hanrahan and Umang Dua, Handybook grew from an idea to a zip-code search tool in a few short months, and is now available in the New York City and Boston markets. Within 90 seconds, Handybook customers can book services with a pre-approved professional home cleaner or handyman for any time, any day, without the hassle of comparing price quotes or matching availability. For more information, visit www.handybook.com